Saying ‘yes to the dress’ is one of the most magical parts of wedding planning. With so many incredible bridal designers and dress styles to choose from, it’s understandable that dress shopping can feel like quite the challenge but it will be an unforgettable experience that you will cherish forever.

In our new series The Dress we ask stylish real brides to share their journey to finding ‘the one’ to help inspire your quest. Heirloom wedding dresses are making a very stylish comeback and we love to see it! Brides are embracing vintage gowns in creative ways to walk down the aisle in meaningful and unforgettable wedding looks. It’s such a sweet and sustainable choice and not only do they celebrate the history and love of the special ladies in their lives but they also create new heirlooms to cherish for future generations.

Here we are diving into real bride Fiona’s eco-friendly wedding dress journey. She breathed a whole new stylish life into her mother’s bridal gown that was inspired by one of the most famous royal wedding dresses of all time!

Bride Bio

Name: Fiona Anderson
Profession: Head of Charity Retail for Concern Worldwide
From: Holywood, County Down
Wedding Date: 17.10.25
Wedding Venue: Beech Hill Country House, Derry
Honeymoon: Travelling around Central America – Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama
Instagram: @fionaanderson

The Love Story

John and I met through friends many years ago in Dunfanaghy, County Donegal, where we both went on holiday with our families as children. We had a summer romance in our teens before both going off to university, we always kept an eye on what the other was doing and reconnected for a pint in the local pub in Dunfanaghy in 2022… and were never apart again! We were on Marble Hill beach in Dunfanaghy, somewhere that holds a lifetime of special memories for us both, on a stunning Easter Saturday morning and John got down on one knee. We celebrated after with champagne in our little retro T25 VW Campervan with our parents which was really special.

The Journey

Like many little girls, I have always dreamt about my wedding day, but flicking through the pages of bridal magazines, I never really saw myself in a traditional white dress, my style has always been quite unique. Working in sustainable fashion, I didn’t feel I would have been true to myself to buy a new wedding dress when my whole ethos is rooted in sustainability. I wanted my wedding dress to tell a story and for others to be inspired to be authentically themselves on their day, not how we think we should dress as a bride.

The Vision

While I respect that brides can choose a special new dress for their day, it didn’t feel like me, I knew I wanted to make a statement and rewear my mum’s dress. My mum’s wedding dress was a 1980s handwoven silk gown inspired by Princess Diana, and it had been tucked away for years. After I got engaged, the first question people would ask me was, ‘What are you going to wear?!’ I reached out to my friend Sue Bamford, a textile artist and sustainability champion, we discussed making an outfit from my mum’s dress and that was the start of the whole idea: reimagining the dress, adding trousers, and transforming every salvageable piece of the original silk fabric.

The Decision

Knowing that John and I stayed true to our values while celebrating our love was incredibly meaningful, rather than just following tradition for the sake of it. Watching all the elements slot into place, especially stepping into my mum’s beautiful dress, felt like weaving our story into the generations before us. I know many brides can feel pressured to follow tradition and spend a lot of money on a dress they’ll wear once, it’s framed as a ‘must’, a symbol of importance, or even a measure of how special the day is, I know initially I felt this pressure and went to a shop to try on a dress. Whilst the experience was so special to share with my mum, I knew I was doing this out of pressure of what I thought I should do, rather than being myself and following my heart. There are so many alternative options for brides now, choosing pre-loved or reworked garments significantly reduces waste, saves materials, and avoids the environmental cost of making something from scratch – without diminishing the significance of a beautiful dress!

In my opinion, having something redesigned or restyled makes it even more special, vintage dresses are often one-of-a-kind, you won’t see the same look on another bride. When a dress is restored, tailored, or reimagined, it becomes a collaboration between you and the maker. That process brings emotional meaning that money alone can’t buy. Pre-loved or reworked dresses have the potential to hold even more sentiment, artistry, and intention than something bought new. You’re not missing out; you’re redefining what a meaningful dress can be.

The Redesign Process

The dress had suffered water damage in a house flood, but Sue painstakingly revived the silk, soaking it in treatments in her own bathtub until it came back to life. She then set to work using traditional techniques including painstaking corsetry and handstitched embroidery approaching each part of the outfit with the precision she’s known for. Patchwork is her speciality, often brushed off as a domestic female craft even though it demands immense skill and patience. Sue weaved in fabrics salvaged from charity shops, she chose a gradient of gold fabrics, from deep tones to pale ones, and added little Easter eggs like a label from Anderson & McAuley, the Belfast department store where my mum worked as a buyer for many years. I love that generations of clothes which are no longer worn could adorn my wedding dress and be part of my story too.

The Accessories

The outfit was completed by a sustainable headpiece made by Elaine Breslin of Daisies & Confetti using broken jewellery from charity shops, an alternative twist on a veil. My wedding shoes and bag were from Vinted. My engagement ring was designed by Ivy Nixon, using recycled gold, an ethically-mined Australian green Sapphire and lab grown diamonds.

The Bridal Party & Guest Dress Code

We aimed to produce as little waste as possible. The velvet bridesmaids’ dresses were sourced secondhand from Vinted and the groomsmen’s suits were rented from Freddie Hatchet in Belfast. All guests were asked to wear something they already owned, something secondhand, borrowed or rented. We set up a partnership with local dress rental business Rent and Rotate to offer a discount for guests renting outfits.

The Reception Look

My evening look was created by the brilliant Helen Duff who crafted a Vivienne Westwood-inspired wrap skirt for dancing. My dad is a proud Scotsman who is incredibly crafty, I wanted my Scottish heritage to be acknowledged so I bought a pair of platform boots on Vinted for £12 and my dad covered them in authentic sky blue Anderson tartan, my family tartan.

It was important to me to surround myself with talented, creative women on our special day, we opted for as many female businesses as possible. Supporting and shouting about female-led businesses matters because it helps shine a light on the talent, skill, and creativity that women bring to the industry, often while juggling multiple roles and responsibilities. These women pour their hearts into their work, and by choosing them, we not only celebrated their artistry but also contributed to a more inclusive and empowering community. I’m so grateful for all the love that went into my outfit and all the incredibly talented women who played a part in the overall look.

The Advice

Be creative and intentional with your choices. Reuse, rent, or upcycle wherever possible. Focus on local suppliers, and remember that looking amazing doesn’t have to cost the earth. Sustainable weddings can still be stylish and deeply personal. What made the day even more special was seeing our guests embrace the spirit of sustainability with such enthusiasm. They arrived proudly in outfits they had thoughtfully borrowed, reworn or upcycled, and it created an unexpected sense of togetherness. People who had never met before were chatting about where their clothes came from and swapping stories. It gave the whole celebration a warm, communal energy. My Auntie June wore the dress she’d worn to my parents’ wedding all those years ago. It was such a touching reminder of continuity, proof that weddings don’t have to rely on anything new to feel full of joy and meaning.

A massive thank you to our fabulous bride Fiona, you can see even more pictures in the gallery below!

Check out our My Wedding Wardrobe series for more fabulous wedding style inspiration from real brides.